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 by Staff Writers Washington (AFP) Feb 24, 2019
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo dismissed Sunday a threat by Russian leader Vladimir Putin to deploy new missiles against Western capitals as "bluster" designed to divide Washington and its allies. In a speech last week, Putin warned the US against deploying any new missiles in Europe after the collapse of a key Cold War-era treaty, saying Russia would respond by deploying weapons targeting "decision-making centers." But in an interview with CNN, Pompeo said Putin's comments amounted to an empty threat and the Russian leader was trying to divert attention away from Moscow's violations of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty. "The Russians violated that treaty... Now it's time to figure out how to move forward and come up with something the Russians will actually live by," said Pompeo. "His bluster is aimed at trying to convince the world, to drive a wedge between the United states and Europe when everyone is fully on board. "The Europeans were fully supportive of our decision, and we'll move forward together in ensuring the security of the United States' people." The US announced earlier this month it was withdrawing from the INF treaty, saying Russia had been in breach of the agreement for several years by deploying a new missile system. Russia, which insists the system complies with the INF, said it would pull out too. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has said several times in recent weeks that the alliance would not deploy any new land-based nuclear weapons in response to the Russian missiles.
N. Korea state media slams US critics of Trump-Kim summit The two leaders are due to meet next week in Hanoi after their groundbreaking first summit in Singapore last June, which produced a vague statement on the "denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula". Senior officials from Washington and Pyongyang are holding preparatory talks in Hanoi -- which are expected to be largely focused on establishing the agenda for the summit. Stephen Biegun, the US Special Representative on North Korea who is leading the American delegation, acknowledged last month that Pyongyang and Washington did not have a "shared agreement of what denuclearisation entails". The lack of progress since the first summit has fuelled scepticism in Washington over the North's intentions, with Trump's own intelligence chief saying Pyongyang was unlikely to completely give up its weapons programme. But in a sharply-worded commentary issued Sunday, the North's official Korean Central News Agency slammed US critics and urged the Trump administration to seize "the rare historic opportunity". "The US administration must not forget last year's lesson when it plunged the bilateral negotiations into a stalemate, being swayed by the opponent forces," it said. "If the upcoming DPRK-US negotiations end without results as wished by the opponent forces, the US people will never be cleared of the security threats," it added. Pyongyang is seeking relief from punishing UN sanctions and rejects demands for what it calls its "unilateral" disarmament. Washington insists that the measures must stay in place until North Korea gives up its nuclear arsenal. Experts say tangible progress is needed in Hanoi to avoid the talks being dismissed as a publicity stunt.
Putin warns new missiles could target 'decision-making centres' Moscow (AFP) Feb 20, 2019 President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said Russia would have to deploy missiles targeting "decision-making centres" if Washington sends missiles to Europe. The announcement comes after the US said it would withdraw from a key Cold War-era arms treaty over what it said were Russian violations, prompting a mirror move from Moscow. "Russia does not intend to be the first to deploy such missiles in Europe," Putin said during an annual state of the nation address. "If (the US) develops and depl ... read more
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